The Sir John Oldcastle — Restaurant in London

Last Friday, after a tough 3-hour exam, my friends and I went there to relax. Honestly, I wish we had gone somewhere else.

I ordered the Big Smoke Burger with beef through the app. After waiting about 20 minutes, I received the wrong burger — it had chicken in it. That’s a serious issue for me because I don’t eat chicken and I’m lactose intolerant. This was buttermilk chicken, which made it worse.

We told the waitress straight away that no one at our table ordered that burger. I explained that I ordered the same burger but with beef. She asked, “Is this table 48?” We said yes, and she responded, “Then one of you must’ve ordered it.” I asked her if there was still a beef burger on the way, and she said yes and told me to just be patient.

When the last person at our table got their food, I asked again if she was sure my beef burger was coming. She replied — clearly annoyed — “Yes, yes, it’s coming. Just wait a minute.”

About five minutes later, she returned and told me I had ordered the chicken burger. I said that’s impossible. Then, ten minutes after everyone else had finished eating, she asked me to speak to the manager.

At the bar, I explained the situation to two managers, one of whom had a really disrespectful attitude, while the other was a bit more understanding, but still not what you'd expect in terms of customer service.

I calmly explained (as someone who works in hospitality myself) that I was 100% sure I ordered the beef burger because of my dietary restrictions, I can’t eat chicken and I’m lactose intolerant. Their reply? “You ordered the chicken burger.”

So I asked, “Why would I order something I can’t eat?” Again, the response was, “You ordered the chicken burger.” I found that extremely dismissive, anyone with a food allergy knows how careful we are when ordering. It felt like they didn’t care at all.

Eventually, they asked if I had the receipt, and I said yes. I showed it to them, it listed the burger name, but didn’t specify beef or chicken. The rude manager pointed out, “See? It doesn’t say beef.” I replied, “Then show me where it says chicken.” At that point, they went quiet.

Then they said that if I wanted the correct burger, I would need to order and pay again. I found this completely unacceptable, since the mistake wasn’t mine. When the wrong burger was brought out, we immediately said it wasn’t ours, so it should’ve been taken back right away.

After more than 15 minutes of back and forth, the kinder manager suggested we check the app, mentioning that they recently switched to a new menu system, and errors might happen. I kept calmly repeating that I ordered the beef burger.

When they opened the app, even they struggled to figure out how to select beef or chicken for that burger. Eventually, they agreed to give me the beef burger.

Five minutes later, the rude manager returned and pointed out where the beef and chicken options were in the app. She then said, “You clicked on chicken, so you made the mistake, but we’ll give you the burger anyway.”

Seriously — what kind of customer...

The "Sir John" isn't just a pub; it's a time capsule. Stepping inside for breakfast is like stepping back into a Dickens novel, albeit one with better coffee. Dark wood paneling, worn but comfortable armchairs, and the gentle hum of conversation create an atmosphere that's thick with history and genuine warmth. Forget sterile, modern cafes – this is where the soul of England resides. The breakfast menu is classic, no frills, and utterly satisfying. A full English, cooked to perfection, arrived with crispy bacon, plump sausages, a perfectly fried egg, and those glorious, golden hash browns. The toast was thick-cut and buttery, the accompanying pot of tea strong and hot. It was the kind of breakfast that sets you up for the entire day, a comforting ritual in a setting that feels like a home away from home. Beyond the food, it's the ambiance that truly sets the Sir John apart. Locals chat amiably at the bar, the landlord offers a friendly greeting, and the air is filled with the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon. There's no pretension here, just genuine hospitality and a sense of community. If you're looking for an authentic English breakfast experience, one that nourishes both body and soul, the Sir John is an absolute must. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best things in life are the simplest, enjoyed in the most traditional...

The food was actually very nice d spite weatherspoons regular reputation, but for being in central London, there were no plugs for charging phones/laptops etc, which if you are desperate for battery, can make a real difference on your impression of a place. The main reason however for the mediocre review was the way my partner was treated. We both ordered a burger, I ordered through the app and everything was quick and perfect. My partner went to the counter and tried to ask for a drive through burger with a drink (a combo meal) and to pay for an extra fried chicken patty in his burger (which is how he worded it). The bar staff was in a rush and wanted to serve other customers and couldn't be bothered to understand this fully and kept on going round in circles and trying to charge him an extra 8 pounds. In the end, my partner gave up trying to explain himself and lo and behold, he got two burgers instead of one and ended up paying more than he wanted to. The server was apologetic as he could see there was a mistake, considering we were a table of two, now with three full burger meal combos between us. He got us a takeaway box and my partner for his lunch sorted for the following day. Overall, lovely food and ok staff, but they could spend more time with their customer at the counter to make sure mistakes like this don't...